Automobile testing machine



NOV. 4, 1941. H, M DARTQN 2,261,342

AUTOMOBILE TESTING MACHINE Filed Oct. l1, 194

VN-H y Patented Nov. 4, 1941.

U Nl TE D STATES *PAT'EN O FFICsE AUTOMOBILE TESTING'aMACHINE Herbert M. Darton, New Haven,Conn. Application October .11, 1940,--Serial No. 360,836

(c1. scans) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to automobile testing machines and more particularly to machines adapted to test the alignment of the wheels vof an automobile as well as any looseness, especially with respect to the machine frame andthe Lkng- ,s

bolt connections.

As is well known, many states require periodic yinspection of automobiles to determine their safetyand tness, and the present machine is designed more particularly to ascertain whether or not the wheels are in proper alignment Aand -also whether the'bearings, king-pins, and assoto provide a relatively simple `and practical machine of the above general character which may' tbe `inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide' an easily operable machine of the above .characrter whereby the automobilemay be quickly testl ed to determine the alignmentof either wheel independently of the other, and also to .ascertain the/degree of loosenessinzthe bearings, king pins, etc.

A further object is to provide a reliablemechanism of the above general charactenin which `the Aabove-referred to tests may be carried out accurately and in a minimum vamount vof time.

Other objects will bein part obvious fromthe annexed drawing and in part hereinafter-,indi-` cated in connection therewith by the following analysis of the invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and inthe unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, lallgas more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of this invention, that they may embody thesame by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by the invention, a drawing depicting V'several forms of the invention has been annexed as part of this disclosure, and in such vdrawing like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, in

l Which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete apparatus, certain concealed parts being indicated in dotted lines;-

1Fig. 2is a evertical sectional view of theparts fshownin Fig. 1 and takensubstantially alongthe line y2--2 of Fig. 1.

vReferring now to the drawing in detail, I() in- 4di'catesthe.longitudinals of la rectangular frame sunk in a pit, the upper surface-of A,which is substantially on a level withvthe floor I I of ,a garage .or testing plant. The irame is also provided with transverse members I Z 'and uprights or erfd `walls I3 and .such other parts necessary to form a :substantial and strong weightsupporting rectangular frame. Obviously linsteadf-of va pit the :frame ymay be above ,ground ylevel with a short ramp leading up thereto. Such a vconstruction permits easier access to the gearing within the frame.

The pit or depression if used, and in which vthe operating mechanism is located, lis

Jpreferably approximately one foot 5in depth slightly .longer than an automobile, and of `a Width :substantially twice the normal width oi .an'automobila asindicated in Fig. 2.

For convenience, there is provided near'one end of 'the pit, operating and indicating mecha nisms hereinafter described, while the central part of the ,pit .is provided .with `two similarly shaped and independently movable supports such -as :cars I4 and I5 having roller means suchas vwheels or casters I6, adapted'to travel-along the floor of thepitiand between thelongitudinals I0 whichalso actas'suitable guides or tracks. The

`upper surfaces of fthe cars 'I4 and I5 provide `separatefscuf plates yI'I and I'8.on to which Vthe front or rear'wheels of an automobile indicated at 20 :are adapted to :be driven `in la direction .substantiallytransverse to the length of the apparatus,'Fig. 1, with the wheels 2| and v22 thereof .being positioned substantially centrally of the "scui rplates Hand 18, respectively, -as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The under side or frameoffeach car I4 and I5 is provided with a rack 23 adapted to be engaged by1afpinion'24 mounted upon a shaft 25'rotatable in suitable bearings 26, 'all'of which parts yare mounted upon fixed blocks 21 secured to the longitudinals I0. Each shaft 26 has fixed or keyed thereto afdownwardly'extending arm 428 v as -shown rat theleftvin Fig. 2, and'top of Fig. 1, fthe lower endsr of which .are connected by means of rods -30 "with respective means `such v:as the lower ends 3| l'oi`lever.'32 4which are pivoted on a shaft V33 Amounted in` suitable bearings supported by blocks 34. This support inithe present case ,is preferablysecured to the bottom of .theframe -as vshown inFig.- 1, asy convenient or-desired. It .is preferable Ato employ two of these blocks '34 in order to maintain the shaft 33 in rigid alignment. The operating levers 32 extend upwardly through suitable flooring covering the upper surface of the frame and are provided with operating handles 35 whereby these levers may 5 be swung to the right or left as desired when testing looseness.

A lock mechanism 3B of any desired type is associated with each of the handles 35, thereby t hold either handle rigid against any lateral 10 movement as and when desired, and to permit the independent rocking movement of the other, all as will be more fully hereinafter explained in connection with the operation of the machine.

On the floor preferably adjacent the operating handles are positioned two dials or scales 31 and 38 of any desired style with which cooperate i pointers L50 and 4|. These pointersfare connectedY by rods 39, respectively, with the scui plates I8 and l1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that as the scuff plates l1 and .I8 are moved or oscillated to the right or left, either by means of handle 35 or bythe action of the approaching car, as driven on to the plates, these pointers will likewise move a corresponding distance to register or indicate the amount of movement on the scales 31 and 38.

In testing an automobile for alignment of wheels, the two scuif plates l1 and I8 are ymoved by the handles to central or neutral position, that is, with the pointers 40 and 4I indicating zero upon the scales 31 and 38. The car is then driven transversely of the pit onto the plates, and any misalignment of the wheels is indicated by these scales for the reason that, as is well known t0 those familiar with the subject, automobile wheels, when in proper alignment, have a very slight convergence towards each other, viewed from the drivers seat. Consequently, as the wheels engage the scuf plate, this slight inward inclination will cause a slight separation of the two scuif plates and move the corresponding supports on their roller bearings I6. This movement should perhaps equal one point each on the scales 31-38. If, however, both wheels are absolutely parallel, no change in indication would appear upon the scales while if they diverge equally outwardly then an equal indication would appear upon the opposite side of both zero points. If the indication on both scales is equal, then it can be assumed that both wheels are outof alignment equally. If, on the other hand, the divergence or convergence of one is greater than the other, such would appear upon the respective scale as the automobile came to rest on the neutrally positioned scuff plates, and the mechanic would know immediately which wheel was out of alignment as well as the extent thereof and could at once indicate the same on his record chart for correction before the car passed inspection.

The other feature to be tested, namely, looseness of king-pins, is determined by locking one or the other of the levers 32 in fixed position by means of the lock mechanism 36 when the automobile is at rest on the scuif plates after the first test and rocking the other lever. This locking prevents any movement Whatever of one scuff plate while the other scuif plate and its associated support is permitted to be rocked back and forth by the other lever 22 supporting the other wheel of the automobile.

The extent of such rocking movement with respect to a zero position is indicated on the scale 31 or 38, depending upon which lever and sup- 75 porting car is locked against movement, and if this movement exceeds a predetermined indication then the associated king-pin and bearings are marked for adjustment or tightening. As soon as one Wheel bearing is tested then the support upon which that wheel rests is locked in position against any movement, and the lock associated with the other operating handle 32 released, whereupon the same procedure is followed to determine the looseness of either king-bolt and bearing associated with other wheel. All of these tests may be carried out one after the other in not over two or three minutes, thus providing a rapid inspection of a series of automobiles in a minimum amount of time.

As soon as the test has been completed, the automobile Vis moved oif of the testing bed, preferably in a continuation of the direction of its approach thereto, and the next car is tested in a similar manner to reliably determine these two important possible defects.

The mechanism herein described is of simple and practical construction and may be installed in any garage or testing plant at minimum expense.

While the present construction is below ground level for the most part, obviously it could be on a raised platform if desired. Also the relative position of the operating levers 32 either at the side or in front of the frame is immaterial. Some manufacturers may prefer them at the end so as to observe the operation of the wheels, but such position might interfere with the approachor departure of the car. As stated, the dials or indicators are of any desired construction, and are indicated largely diagrammatically. They could obviously extend vertically, or be mounted on the testing plant wall if convenient, and as to these minor details, no claim is made.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specic aspects of the invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an automobile testing machine of the character described, in combination, a pair of plates on which a pair of wheels of an automobile Vis adapted to rest, independent supports for each of said plates, tracks positioned beneath said supports, roller means adapted to travel on said tracks whereby the supports may move transversely of the automobile resting on said plates, means for moving said plates including rack and pinion mechanisms with operating levers connected therewith, means for locking at will either of said levers and the supports with which they are connected, and means for indicating the extent of movement of said plates.

2. In an automobile testing machine of the character described, in combination, a pair of scuif plates on to which an automobile is adapted to be driven with a pair of wheels resting thereon, independent supports for each of said scuff plates, tracks positioned beneath said supports, roller bearings adapted to travel on said tracks whereby the supports may move transversely of said automobile wheels supported on said scuff plates, two adjacent levers for moving said supports including linkage connected therewith and the scuri' plates, means for locking at will either of said levers against movement, and means for indicating the extent of movement including pointers connected with said support thereby to indicate the extent of movement of said plates, said indicating means being adjacent and viewable by the operator of said levers and positioned at one side of the plates.

3. In the automobile testing machines of. the character described, in combination, a pair of scuff plates on which a pair of wheels of an automobile is adapted to rest, independent cars supporting each of said scuff plates, tracks positioned beneath said cars, roller bearings adapted to travel extent of the movement of that car when moved with respect to the other.

HERBERT M. DARTON. 

